Winning expected

Caption

(AP)

Wisconsin head football coach Gary Andersen speaks during a news conference at Big Ten media day. Andersen plans on building the winning tradition established by previous coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema.

BY GENARO ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

New coach, same high expectations at Wisconsin.

It's up to Gary Andersen now to keep the Badgers' streak of three straight Big Ten titles going after Bret Bielema bolted for Arkansas last December.

Not many coaches get the opportunity to take over a major college program in the middle of such a successful run.

Andersen, 49, arrives in Madison after four seasons at Utah State, which went from 4-8 to 11-2 during Andersen's tenure.

"It's awesome to walk into a program and these kids expect to win. When they jog out of the tunnel every single day ... there's not one ounce of them that's intimidated by anybody in the country," Andersen said. "And we expect to win."

The key test will come at Leaders Division foe Ohio State on Sept. 28. If the Badgers can pull out a win on the road against the powerhouse Buckeyes, then Wisconsin could be in the running for a fourth Big Ten crown.

Five things to watch for the Badgers heading into season:

1. QB competition

Returnees Curt Phillips and Joel Stave appear to have the early edge after the first major scrimmage of camp Monday.

Stave was 4-1 as a starter before breaking his collarbone Oct. 27 against Michigan State. Phillips, a sixth-year senior, started the season's final five games, including the 70-31 romp over Nebraska in the Big Ten title game.

"I think there's been some slight separation at this point," Anderson said about the quarterback race without running down the depth chart.

2. One guy ... for now

Andersen seems to prefer sticking with just one quarterback. Maybe.

Perhaps it's just a matter of giving opposing defensive coordinators something to think about, but Andersen didn't entirely rule out using multiple quarterbacks after Monday's scrimmage.

"I'm not interested in platooning, but if you've got a young man who's got a set of skills who can really cause some issues for the defense as far as their preparation time and can still give you an advantage, I think it's something we would always look at," he said. "But right now, that is not the plan."

3. Replacing Montee

That blowout of the Cornhuskers?

It was more due to the dominant running game that featured FBS record-holder Montee Ball, who is now taking NFL training camp handoffs in Denver from Peyton Manning.

But the Badgers backfield is still stocked between James White and Melvin Gordon, who combined for more than 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns backing up Ball.

4. Shake it up

Andersen plans to mix up the looks on defense, which has six starters returning.

It helps that senior linebackers Chris Borland (104 tackles in 2012) and Ethan Armstrong (93 tackles) are back, though Armstrong has been sidelined by a left leg injury.

5. Main man

Speaking of Borland, the linebacker already has a big fan in his new coach.

"Tremendous kid, tremendous leader, and I believe he's the best linebacker in the country," Andersen said.

The senior from Kettering, Ohio has the credentials to make a run at the Bednarik Award for college football's top defensive player. The transition to a different defense has been aided by having familiar faces on the field.